Focus Group Report: Navigating the Recovery and Hyperpartisanship

June 24, 2021
Bryan Bennett

Focus groups with soft partisans reveal optimism on economy and the pandemic, but concerns about deep political and societal divides.

Key takeaways

  • Economically, people are increasingly optimistic personally.
  • Yet with COVID-19 and a recession in the rear-view mirror, many worry about unemployment insurance discouraging a return to work.
  • Politically, participants across party lines lament our polarized country.

 

Many Feel Their Personal Situation Has Improved

Yet Many Still Lament Our Deep Societal Divisions, Citing Race In Particular

Many Feel Unemployment Relief Is Important, Even If They Disagree On The Current Need

Some Democrats Suggest Many Jobs Are Likely Underpaid

Some Voters Have Mixed Views On Their Own Parties

Democrats Describe Their Party’s Vision As Focused On Race And Economic Equality

Democrats See The Republican Vision As Retrogressive And Dystopian

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About The Study

This release features findings from online focus groups conducted on June 16, 2021, with voters in three states: Ohio (mixed partisans who have been on unemployment insurance within the past year), Georgia (Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters), and Arizona (Republican and Republican-leaning voters who aren’t very unfavorable toward Biden or very favorable toward Trump). Qualitative results are not statistically projectable.

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